Sunday, February 12, 2017

Kali, Tara, Mantagi and Saraswati are the most importance goddesses to me. But lately I have been
moving more and more towards Kali.

I think of the 18th century Bengali poet Sadhak Rāmprasād Sen and his devotion to the Kali.
He writes:

Meditate on Kali! Why be anxious?
The night of delusion is over; it's almost dawn.
The sun is rising, dispelling
thick nets of darkness, and lotuses are blooming thanks to Siva
at the top of your head.
The Vedas throw dust in your eyes; blind too
the six philosophies. If even the planets
can't fathom Her
who will break up these fun and games?
There are no lessons between teacher and student
in a market of bliss.
Since She owns the actors, the stage, and the play itself
who can grasp the truth of the drama?
A valiant devotee who knows the essence -- he
enters that city.
Ramprasad says, My delusion is broken;
who can bundle up fire?
[Translated by Rachel Fell McDermott]

I will be in Kolkata next week amazing. I will be in Bengal taking a teacher training at the Ghosh College with the grand daughter of Bishnu Ghosh, The most important thing to me is to make sure I spend time in at Kali's temple.

I am working with her. I am listening to her. I am learning what I can. I have so many books. I have taken whatever class I can find. I took a 4 week class this fall on her Yantra and how to do Kali Puja down at the Yogini Ashram in Norwalk. It was a long long drive. It was inconvenient and difficult to get there. But if the goddess calls you, you must go!

I ask her for guidance and I journal about her Nityas. I am developing my own personal Kali Sadhana.

I teach a class called Lunar Hatha and Guided Imagery on Monday nights at The Yogi Tree in Los Angeles. This class focuses on the Lunar Nityas. The Moon is always moving between Lalitha and Kali. Lalitha and her many Nitya forms rules from the new moon to the full moon (Waxing Moon) and Kali and her nityas takes over from the day after the full moon to the day before the new moon (Waning Moon). I find Lalitha energy to be softer and more beautiful also it is the energy of setting intentions. Kali is stronger and fiercer. I see her energy as of that of transformation and manifestation.

In my monday night lass I start with chanting, mudra meditation, then move to joint freeing series, core stabilization and on to satyananda moon salutations with mantras and then to cooling down poses, cooling pranayamas and guided imagery of the nitya of the evening.

I am happiest and most energized with the moon is in Kali

I haven't been using any affirmations with Kali mudra because I use it with the bija mantra Kreem but Joseph and Lilian Le Page have these two affirmations

"Through purification at all dimensions of being, My true nature is revealed naturally."
and
"Through spiritual purification, I clearly perceive the freedom of my essential being."

Joseph and Lilian Le Page in their mudra book are attracted to the purification of Kali where I have been using it and teaching it as a mudra for personal transformation and manifestation.

According to Vedic Scholar David Frawley

"Ma Kali is the most misunderstood of all Hindu Goddesses, though she is often regarded as the most powerful. Kali’s dark and fierce form is certainly intimidating and hard to fathom, unless one is willing to look with discernment behind the veil of sensational images about her.. . .This was at a time in which the world was dominated by colonial powers and the idea of a Universal Mother was not accepted – much less a World Mother who was dark in colour and fierce in demeanour from a backward country like India!Ma Kali is kala shakti or the power of time. She indicates the impermanence of all things, which is why she wears a garland of skulls. Yet she is also the ultimate transforming power of time, which is to take us from death to immortality. Along with endless time, Kali is boundless space, the limitless void, indicated by her dark blue colour. Her magical dance of transformation is all existence.. . . All the goddesses and the entire universe manifests from her indomitable force. . . . Kali is not the goddess of death and destruction as some see her but, on the contrary, represents the complete victory of the Divine over all death and destruction. Her warrior goddess form removes all the illusions of the mind and reveals the undying presence of our inmost Self that is one with all.

During the Kali cycle of the moon I have been chanting "Kreem" instead of AUM at the beginning and the end when class and sometimes in specific postures. Kali’s seed mantra is “kreem,” is the "kriya shakti" or power of transformation behind the vast movement of life.

Kreem grants all spiritual faculties and powers — from the arousing of kundalini to opening the third eye. It has a special power relative to the lower chakras, which it can both stimulate and transform. It helps awaken and purify the subtle body. As a mantra of work and transformation Kreem is the mantra of Kriya Yoga, the Yoga of practice. It is the main mantra of the Yoga Shakti. Because it is a strong mantra it should be used with care.

We chant kreem with an idea about what we would like to transform in our lives. I find Kreem very powerful and I chant it with Kali Mudra.

I have used it mainly with the mantra kreem but also with bija mantras of the chakras, especially, Aum, Hum, Yam, Nng and So Hum.

I have used this mudra in meditation at the heart, throat chakra, eyebrow center and at the top of the head depending on what I was interested in transforming.

Joseph and Lilian Le page suggest that the mudra point towards the throat with the hands held at the level of the sternum.

According to Joseph and Lillian Le Page the mudra is especially helpful more
- Balancing the fifth chakra through the process of spiritual purification
- Releasing tension from the neck, shoulders, throat and vocal cords
- Enhancing inuition, allowing us to receive spiritual guidance for our journey

The mudra is contra-indicated for hyperthyroid conditions.

I also use the mudra with specific yoga poses and especially when the moon is in Kali.

Here are some asanas that I have learned with Kali Mudra. They come out of the Ghosh Lineage

Half Moon

Balancing Stick

I also use Kali Mudra with Moon Salutations (Satyananda Lineage). I find that Kali Mudra can be used in easily with these poses:
- Pranamasana
- Hasta Utthaanasana
- Ardha Chandrasana (equestrian with arms over head and one knee down)

People in class respond very well to Kali Mudra and the mantra Kreem. I use these to access the transformative power of Kali to transform our lives into what we would like them to be. I liken liken the mudra to a sword cutting through anything that is holding us back from becoming who we want to be.

To conclude with Frawley

"Kali is the inner power of yoga or yoga shakti. Yoga in the true sense is a practice of mergence and return to the Divine source of existence. Yoga rests upon nirodha, the full concentration of the mind and dissolution of the ego. Kali is the nirodha shakti, the power of negation, neti-neti, not this, not that, of the Upanishads.Kundalini shakti, the secret yogic power of transformation within us, works through Kali’s grace and motivation. Kundalini ascends and dissolves all the chakras, or energy centres within us, back into the state of pure unity consciousness that is Ma Kali’s ultimate abode.Kali is the Shakti inherent in Shiva as Mahakala, the great lord of eternity. She dances on Shiva in a prone form, showing the Divine life and joy that manifests out of absolute stillness and transcendence."

I think being a black woman and a yogini is why Kali has become so important to me. I will continuing looking for her, learning about her, chanting her name, and asking her for guidance.

Here is another poem by Ramprasad Sen.

Why is Mother Kali so radiantly black?
Because she is so powerful,
that even mentioning her name destroys delusion.
Because she is so beautiful,
Lord Shiva, Conquerer of death,
lies blissfully vanquished,
beneath the red soled feet.
There are subtle hues of blackness,
But her bright complexion
is the mystery that is utterly black,
overwhelmingly black, wonderfully black.
When she awakens in the lotus shrine
within the heart’s secret cave,
her blackness becomes the mystic illumination
that causes the twelve petal blossom there
to glow more intensely than golden embers.
Her lovely form is the incomparable
Kali- black blacker than the King of Death.
Whoever gazes upon this radiant blackness falls eternally in love
and feels no attraction to any other,
discovering everywhere only her.
This poet sighs deeply,
“Where is this brilliant lady, this black light beyond luminosity?
Though I have never seen her, simply hearing her name,
the mind becomes absorbed completely in her astonishing reality.

ANNAMAYAKOSHA:
In the panchakosha system the the annamayakosha is the physical body, Kyphosis on a physical level is a forward rounding of the back. Although, some rounding is normal, "kyphosis" usually refers to an exaggerated rounding of the back. While kyphosis can occur at any age, it's most common in older women. Other names for kyphosis are Hyperkyphosis, Roundback; Dowager’s Hump. Hunchback and Postural kyphosis

Age-related kyphosis often occurs after osteoporosis weakens spinal bones to the point that they crack and compress. Other types of kyphosis are seen in infants or teens due to malformation of the spine or wedging of the spinal bones over time.

Mild kyphosis causes few problems, but severe cases can cause pain and be disfiguring. Treatment for kyphosis depends on your age, the cause of the curvature and its effects.

The individual bones (vertebrae) that make up a healthy spine look like cylinders stacked in a column. Kyphosis occurs when the vertebrae in the upper back become more wedge-shaped. This deformity can be caused by a variety of problems, including:

Osteoporosis. This bone-thinning disorder can result in crushed vertebrae (compression fractures). Osteoporosis is most common in older adults, particularly women, and in people who have taken high doses of corticosteroids for long periods of time.

Disk degeneration. Soft, circular disks act as cushions between spinal vertebrae. With age, these disks dry out and shrink, which often worsens kyphosis.

Scheuermann's disease. Also called Scheuermann's kyphosis, this disease typically begins during the growth spurt that occurs before puberty. Boys are affected more often than are girls. The rounding of the back may worsen as the child finishes growing.

Birth defects. If a baby's spinal column doesn't develop properly in the womb, the spinal bones may not form properly, causing kyphosis.

Syndromes. Kyphosis in children can also be associated with certain syndromes, such as Marfan syndrome or Prader-Willi disease.

Cancer and cancer treatments. Cancer in the spine can weaken vertebrae and make them more prone to compression fractures, as can chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments.

An increased curve in the upper spine also can be caused by slouching. Called postural kyphosis, this condition doesn't involve any deformities in the spine. It's most common in teenagers

In some cases, the misalignment of the spine can lead to pain, which can become severe and disabling.

Decreased appetite. In severe cases, the curve may cause the abdomen to be compressed and lead to decreased appetite.”PRANAMAYAKOSHA

Pranamayakosha is the breath and energy body. Kyphosis of thoracic spine can make it difficult to breath and affect the function of the heart. Decreased lung capacity is a possible complication of kyphosis. Fatigue is also a symptom.MANOMAYAKOSHA

Manomayakosha is the psycho-emotional body. Kyphosis can lead to body image problems. Adolescents especially may develop a poor body image from having a rounded back or from wearing a brace to correct the condition. These psychological effects may persist for years after patients have had treatment, or surgery.

I also ask myself can I poor self esteem lead to rounding of the back. The desire to collapse in and protect ourselves?

As humans we walk upright. This uprightness exposes the vulnerability of the human organism
In the animal world, the soft and vulnerable parts of the organism are close to the ground, protected by the hard back and the limbs. Most animals meet the world protected. As humans we meet the world exposed and upright. The upright stance exposes the soft front to the environment, increasing the surface area of the nervous system and adding to the information provided by the senses of the head – the eyes, ears, nose. Kyphosis, a condition where we collapse in helps us protect our exposed self.

VIJNANAMAYAKOSHA
This is where the mind is the ‘witness’, observing behaviors, understanding where we are not our personality. Herein lies an opportunity to reframe one’s core beliefs.

Through yoga therapy we can work on understanding the strengths and weakness of the physical chest and well as the emotional and astral chest. Using asana, pranayama, yoga nidra and meditation to witness and perhaps heal the samskaras that is preventing the heart to stay open and the chest and shoulders to collapse in and forward,

ANANDAMAYAKOSHA
Anandamayakosha is a state of being or state of meditation where we recognize bliss and ease of well-being. Our natural state of wholeness where separation and confusions are not present.

Meditation on physical, pranic, emotional and spirtual expansion may bring the client back to wholeness and experience joy.

2. BODY AWARENESS (ADAPTED SCRIPT FOR THE BACK AND SPINE FROM CHAPTER 2 THE IYT STUDY GUIDE)
Come to a comfortable position – seated in a chair, lying on your back in savasana or constructive rest, or sitting on the floor with the back against the wall.

Allow the eyes to close and focus your awareness on the feelings and sensations in the body.

I will lead you on a guided journey through the body. As I guide you through the different parts of the body, become aware of each as fully as you can. Notice which parts of the body feel open and relaxed, and which feel tight or contracted. Bring your awareness to your left fingers and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the left hand and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the left lower arm and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the left upper arm and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the left shoulder and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the right hand and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the right lower arm and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the right upper arm and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the right shoulder and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the left toes and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the left lower leg and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the left upper leg and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the right toes and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the right lower leg and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the right upper leg and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the hips and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there. Notice the right hip . . . the left hip . . . is there any difference between the sides? Notice the front of the hips . . . and then the back of the hips. , , notice the entirety of the hips and all the sensations.

Bring awareness to the pelvis leg and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the left buttocks and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the right buttocks and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Notice any difference between the left and right buttock.
Now bring awareness to the entire buttock, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the left side of the back and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the Right side of the back.and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the Lumbar vertebrae, the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the Thoracic vertebrae, the upper- and middle-back. It joins the cervical spine and extends down about five inches past the bottom of the shoulder blades, where it connects with the lumbar spine and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there..
Bring awareness to the Cervical vertebrae, vertebrae in the neck spine and feel them fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness the whole of the spin and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there...

Bring awareness to the whole of the back and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.
Bring awareness to the Abdomen and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the low back and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there..
Now bring awareness to both the abdomen and low back and feel it fully, noticing all the sensations there.

Bring awareness to the Solar plexus and notice what sensations are there
Bring awareness to the mid back and notice the sensations there, and feel it fully.
Now bring awareness to both the solar plexus and mid back and notice what sensations are.

Bring awareness to the Chest, feel it fully, and notice the sensations
Bring awareness to the upper back, and feel it fully and notice the sensations.
Now bring awareness to both the chest and upper back, and notice the sensations
Bring awareness to the Throat and feel it fully and notice these sensations
Bring awareness to the cylinder of the neck – the front of the neck, the sides of the neck and the back
of the neck.

Bring awareness to the Head, examine the head mentally, feel any sensations there
Notice the jaw , feel it fully, noticing any sensations.
Notice the mouth, feel it fully, noticing any sensations
Notice the eyes, feel it fully, noticing any sensations
Notice the forehead, feel it fully, noticing any sensations
Become aware of the scalp, feel it fully, noticing any sensations

Bring the awareness to the Left side of the body, feel it fully, noticing any sensations
Bring the awareness to the right sides of the body, feel it fully, noticing any sensations.

Bring awareness to the Front of the body, feel it fully, noticing any sensations
Bring awareness to the back of the body, feel it fully, noticing any sensations.

Bring Awareness to The whole body, feel it fully, noticing any sensations.FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY: BODY MAP AND DISCUSSION

First the client will fill out the body map
After the client is done the client and yoga therapist will discuss the map

3. INITIAL BREATHING EXERCISE – SPINAL BREATHING

Breathing in the Spine
One excellent way to become more aware of, and more centered in, the spine is through learning to breathe in the astral spine

Sit upright with a straight spine.

Visualize the spine: Touch the tip of the tailbone (coccyx) with one forefinger, and the medulla oblongata area with the other.
upward movement of energy, while the downward wave of relaxation on the exhalation coincides with the down-ward movement of energy in the spine. The physical expansion and relax
Visualize a hollow tube, about as big around as your thumb, connecting those two points, and energy flowing up through that tube with each inhalation, and down with each exhalation.

Next move the first finger to the spiritual eye and visualize breathing through the entire astral spine: from tailbone to medulla, then bending forward to the spiritual eye. Relax the hands to the lap and continue the breathing and visualization.

Use the Full Yogic Breath pattern: the upward wave of expansion in the torso on the inhalation
coincides with ation will help students tune into the energy movements.

Ujjayi breathing is an option: the constriction at the back of the throat slows the breath and helps draw one’s attention to the spine (since the back of the throat is very near the cervical spine).
“Spinal breathing” can help students focus on — and center in — the astral spine.

4. MUDRA

In a comfortable seated position for, Urdhvam Merundanda Mudra, the Gesture of the Upper Spine.
This mudra cultivates opennes, optimism and enthusiasm. Its core quality is expansiveness. It releases tension from the upper back, especially between the shoulder blades

The affirmation of this mudra is:“Breathing freely in the back of my body, I open to my infinite possibilities.”

Work with repeating the affirmation 3 x: Once aloud, once as a whisper, and once silently.5. ASANA PROGRAM
According to yoga therapist Terry Smith, Ph.D., co-founder of the Healthy Back, Healthy Body program, a yoga therapy program for hyperkyphosis should contain several components. It must strengthen weak core muscles, open and realign the heart and chest area to improve and reverse the hunched back and rounded shoulders, and at the same time restore alignment by building greater awareness of how the person holds their body. Particularly useful to reverse dowager’s hump are yoga poses that target the muscles and joints most affected by hyperkyphosis, including shoulders, spinal erectors, abdominals, and neck.

WARM UPS
-Joint Freeing Series with emphasis on the spine (Joint Freeing Series 6,7,8,12,13,14, 15-21)
-Myofascial release on the thoracic spine with Yoga Tune Up Balls and foam roller

6. PRANAYAMA
-Diaphragmatic Breathing in Constructive rest with hands on the belly
-Breathing in an out of the nostrils (ujjayi)
-On the inhale the belly rises like a balloon on the exhale the belly falls
-7.PRATYAHARA/ YOGA NIDRA or GUIDED IMAGERY

8 STAGE YOGA NIDRA FOR THE KYPHOSIS
(STAGE 1 - INTERNALIZATION)

(Setting Up): If you have a cell phone make sure it is off.
Prepare for the practice of Yoga Nidra by lying on your back in Savasana – if this is not comfortable you can try putting a pillow under your head or if back hurts bend the knees or try putting pillow or blanket under knees. If you are pregnant please lie on the side in a fetal position. You can also sit in a chair, on the floor with the back against wall.

You might want to have a blanket because the body temperature tends to drop during Yoga Nidra.

Also put a blanket under any area that is sensitive.

Try to be as aligned and symmetrical from feet to head. Feel your spine aligned. In shavansasana, arms are away from sides palm up or down. If anything is on you tight like glasses or a wrist watch you can take it off. Eyes should be closed to avoid visual distraction. . Say to yourself mentally “I am practicing Yoga Nidra for the chakras. . . I will stay awake for Yoga Nidra for the chakras” …..

(Relaxation): Take a full breath in with the exhalation think the word “expansion”. Do this at least 2 more times…. Become aware of the body relaxing. Feel supported across the whole body. Feel the feet supported, Feel arms and hands supported, feel the legs supported, feel the shoulders and head supported. Feel every place where the body is supported and allow yourself to release more deeply.

Let go of all effort of holding the body. For a short time notice the rhythm of the breath.

Be aware of distant sounds. . . sounds outside the room . . . sounds inside the room . .. sounds of the body… Become aware of the sound of your breath.

In Yoga Nidra, it is best if the body remains still. If you become uncomfortable you may move but come back to stillness as soon as you can. Say to yourself mentally “I will remain still for Yoga Nidra.” (pause)

(STAGE 2 - SANKALPA)

It is time for the Sankalpa. A sankalpa is a short positive statement in the present or future tense. It is a resolve, intention affirmation. If you do not have yet have a sankalpa use the resolve “I will find the right sankalpa for me” Repeat your resolve 3 x each time with exact same wording and the confidence that it will come true..

(STAGE 3 - Rotation of Consciousness):

Moving on to the rotation of consciousness through the body. The body remains motionless. When a part of the body is named either repeat the name of the body part in mentally, bring awareness to the part of the body, or visualize the body part. We will begin on the right hand side body.

Bring awareness to the left side of the body starting with the left thumb. Left hand thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinky finger, palm of the hand, back of the hand, wrist, lower arm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder, arm pit, left side of the ribcage, waist, hip, upper leg, kneecap, lower leg, ankle, heel, instep, sole of the foot, top of the foot, the left big toe, 2nd toe, third toe, fourth toe, left 5th toe. Stay awake.

Bring awareness to the top of the head, the forehead, right temple, left temple, the right eyebrow, the left eyebrow, eyebrow center, the right eyelid, the left eyelid, the right eye, the left eye, the right ear, the left ear, the top of the nose, the right nostril, the left nostril, the right cheek, the left cheek, the upper lip, the lower lip, teeth, tongue, jaw, front of the neck, right collar bone, left collar bone, the hallow between the collar bones, right chest, left chest, center of chest, upper abdomen, navel, lower abdomen, pelvis, buttocks, lower back, middle back, upper back, the entire spinal column, right shoulder blade, left shoulder blade, back of the head, top of the head. STAY AWAKE
(pause)

Bring the awareness to the spine

Become aware of the medulla oblongata and to the spinal cord
Starting from the cervical vertebrae at the base of the skull
Move inside each vertebra and the disc below it.

the triangular bone called the sacrum
the coccyx or tail bone.
Feel the spinal cord and the back becoming loose and comfortable.
Feel the discs softening.
Feel your spine expanding and elongating, making you taller

(pause)

Now bring the awareness to
The whole Right Arm
The whole Left Arm
The whole Right Leg,
The whole Left Leg
The Whole Front of the Body
The Whole back of the body
The Whole Spine
The whole body together
The whole body together
The whole body together
Not let go of the body scan and come back to natural breathing

(STAGE 4 - Breath Awareness)
Once again visualize breathing in the Spine

Become aware of the tip of the tailbone, the bottom of the spine called the coccyx and then the top of
the spine the medulla oblongata at the back of the sprain and top of the neck.

Visualize a hollow tube, about as big around as your thumb, connecting those two points, and energy flowing up through that tube with each inhalation, and down with each exhalation.

Begin to breath from the tailbone to the medulla oblongata

With each inhale the breath moves from the tailbone to the medulla oblongata and with each exhale the breath moves from the medulla oblongata to the tailbone

Continuing counting backwards from 18 to 0 with awareness of the breath moving from tailbone to medulla oblongata and the medulla oblongata to the tailbone
If the count is lost begin again at 18 (pause)

If the count reaches zero start again at 18 (pause)

Stay with the counting (pause)

Stay with awareness of the breath moving from tailbone to medulla oblongata and medulla oblongata to tailbone (pause)

Stay awake and aware (pause)

Now let go of the counting and let go of awareness of the breath at moving from the tailbone to medulla oblongata and medulla oblongata to tailbone and come back to natural breathing

Bring awareness to upper back behind the chest. This area is associated with the heart chakra. The sacred sound of healing from the heart chakra is YAM (pronounced Yum)

If this doesn’t seem appropriate you can also continually chant the mantra YAM
(stay with the practice of chanting YAM)
(1 minute)

The neck is associated with the throat chakra. The sacred sound of the throat chakra is HAM (pronounced hum)

Begin to inhale and exhale the mantra HAM or chant continuous hum, hum, hum, hum
(stay with the practice of chanting HAM)

(1 minute)

Now let go of the mantra practice and come back to natural breathing

(STAGE 5 - OPPOSITES)
(HEAVY)
Bring awareness to the spinal column.
Feel only the spinal column and no other part of the body
Imagine the spinal column very heavy
the coccyx center is heavy, the sacrum is heavy, the solar plexuses are heavy, the heart is heavy, throat is heavy, the third eye is heavy the crown of the head heavy is heavy. The whole spine is heavy the whole spinal column is heavy as if were made of lead
Let go of heaviness and go to the opposite sensation of lightness

(LIGHT)
imagine the spinal column light the crown of the head is light, the third eye is light, the throat is light, the heart is light, the solar plexuses are light, the sacrum is light, the coccyx is light. The spinal column is light as if it could rise above the floor light a feather. The whole spine is light
Light go of lightness and

(STAGE 6 - VISUALIZATIONS)
Bring the awareness to the chidakasha the mind space in front of the closed eyes.

Notice if there are in colors or patterns there.

Let the awareness be at the chiddakasha, the mind screen, the mind move and in that space

Visualize the backbone. Let the backbone be straight and aligned. Visualize it, see it, and just in the middle of it visualize a nerve, delicate as the lotus thread, running in the center of your spinal column...

In the spine, just in the center, there is a silver cord – a very delicate nerve. It is not really a nerve in the physiological sense.

If one performs and operation to find it; it will not be there. But in deep meditation it is seen.

Through that thread we are related to the body, and through that thread also we are related to our soul.

First, visualize the spine, seeing the spinal column...

See the body structure from within.

See your bones, blood, veins,

Come inside the body

Relax.

Concentrate on the spinal column

Allow the body to relax and feel the breath moving like a gentle wave through the body.

Allow the breath to move into any remaining areas of discomfort

Notice which area is calling for your attention in this moment and begin to explore it.

Where is this area located?

What is the feeling or sensation?

What is the shape, size, color, density? Can you take your awareness inside this area?

What is the area around it like? Breathe into that area and allow all tension to be released on the exhaling breath.

What is the feeling or emotion in that area. Is it anger, fear, sadness?

Take your awareness slowly through the body from the toes all the way up to the crown of the head.
As you do so, notice the place in the body that feels the most whole, the most comfortable in this moment.

When you find this place, tell me where it is. [Allow them to locate this place.]

Notice this feeling of openness.

There may even be a color, a sound, or a symbol that goes along with it naturally.

What’s your experience of this area?

Notice what are the feeling and images that go along with it.

Now, begin to allow this feeling to spread through the body. Allow it to flow down to the toes, completely filling the feet and toes.

Legs,
Hips
Arms,
Lower, middle and upper Back
Abdomen, chest
shoulders
Neck
head
Now let go of the visualization practice
And let go of chiddakasha
And come back to the heart beat
In your heart beat hear your heart’s desire, your Sankalpa

(STAGE 7 - Sankalpa): The same Sankalpa you made at the beginning of the practice. Repeat it mentally 3 times with the exact same wording and with the faith that it will come true.

(STAGE 8 - Externalization)
Become aware the breath.

Listen for sounds in this room….sounds outside this room….. Find the furthest sound that you can hear…… Start to remember this room: remember the walls… remember the ceiling… remember the floor. Remember your place in the room.,.. Remember who’s in this room with you… Remember the chakras….Become aware of your body lying on the floor, (or sitting on the chair, or against the wall)… Notice the weight of your body and all the points where your body is supported…. Extend your attention through your entire body… Become aware of your entire body from you head to your finger tips…. Become aware of your body extending from your head to your toes… Be aware of your breath… Become aware of the entire physically body and the breath inside your body…. Consciously make your breath deeper and full… Make your breath deeper. … Inhaling and Exhaling deeply… Make your breath very full…. Inhaling and exhaling fully….Keep your eyes closed and Say to yourself mentally “The practice of Yoga Nidra is now complete.”…. Start moving your body and stretching.
Making your movements larger and larger. Inhale your arms over your head.

Remembering to be mindful of what’s near you. Stretch (3) Yawn. Gently roll to a side in a fetal position and use it is a transition to come up to seated. (long pause) Open your eyes. You are fully alert and ready to go on with the rest of your day/evening. OR GUIDED IMAGERY

Allow the body to completely relax and feel the breath moving through the body like a gentle, slow motion wave from the soles of the feet to the crown of the head…

As you do so, notice any areas of the body that are still holding tension or tightness. [Allow them to locate this place of tension.]

What is the area and what is your experience of it? [Allow them to describe the feeling and any images that go along with it. If they have no major areas of tension at this point in the process, go directly to the next phase, Relaxation].

Bring your awareness to the area of tension you will be working with and make a mental picture of that area. Now, take your awareness to your left hand. Feel the sensations there and allow an image of the hand to form in your mind’s eye.

Now also, visualize an image of the hand placed over the area of tightness you are working with. Feel as if this image of your hand were gently holding the area of tension. Very slowly, as I count from one to five, I’m going to ask you to begin to close your left hand into a fist and at the same time to close and tighten the image of the hand that you have around the area of tension you are working with. After contracting both the hand and your image, we will be loosening them both so that you can completely relax this tight area.

Now, slowly begin to close the hand into a fist as I count from 1 to 5 and, at the same time, close the visualized hand around that area of tightness. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… Hold the fist and the area of tightness as tightly contracted as possible. Take an inhaling breath and now, as you exhale, slowly begin to release both the fist and the area of contraction as I count down from 5 to 1. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1

8, MUDRA MEDITATION
Sitting in Urdhvam Merundanda Mudra, the gesture of the Upper Spine once again work with the
AFFITMATION x 3

“Breathing freely in the back of my body, I open to my infinite possibilities
First aloud, then as a whisper. And last one silently.